Terracotta fragment of a kylix (drinking cup)
Unknown Artist
490–480 BCE
Medium
Terracotta
Classification
Vases
Culture & Period
Greek, Attic · Late Archaic
Department
Greek and Roman Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Dietrich von Bothmer, Distinguished Research Curator, Greek and Roman Art, 2011
Accession Number
2011.604.1.2511
Art Historical Context
This terracotta fragment from a kylix, or shallow drinking cup, dates to490–480 BCE, Late Archaic period in Attic Greece. in Athens, the epicenter of ancient Greek pottery, kylikes were essential for symposia—lively social gatherings where elite men reclined, drank wine mixed with water, and engaged in philosophical discourse or poetry. Though only a piece survives, it exemplifies the exquisite craftsmanship of Attic vase painters, whose works adorned homes and served as exports across the Mediterranean. Terracotta, fired clay valued for its durability and versatility, allowed artists to crea...